Cigar lighter flint positioning mechanism



Aug. 12, 1958 w. I. NISSEN CIGAR LIGHTER FLINT POSITIONING MECHANISMFiled Jan. 4, 1956 INVENTOR.

M RREN 1. NlsszN.

tates CIGAR LIGHTER FLINT POSITIONING MECHANISM Application January 4,1956, Serial No. 557,287

3 Qlaims. (Cl. 67-71) It has long been conventional in pyrophoriclighters embodying a flint tube which holds the flint in operatingposition and into which new flints are inserted as needed, to close themouth of the tube through which the flint is inserted, by a threadedplug which is unscrewed with the aid of a coin or like tool whenever anew flint is needed, and screwed back into operating position in thesame manner after the new flint has been inserted. To simplify theremoval and reinsertion of the plug, it has been long since proposed toconstruct the latter to operate on the bayonet slot principle, but thestructures of such nature as heretofore proposed have been so costly andcumbersome as to inhibit their practical adoption and use. The presentinvention aims to provide flint positioning structure of the abovecharacter which will be readily operable by direct manual engagementwithout the need of any special tools, and which will be withinpractical limits in respect to expense, complication and space required.Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obviousand in part as specifically referred to in the description hereinaftercontained, which taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsdiscloses certain preferred embodiments of a cigar lighter flintpositioning mechanism which is constructed to operate in accordance withthe invention. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side view, with certain partscut away, of a cigar lighter having a flint positioning mechanismconstructed to operate in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view showing detached, the lower end portionof the flint tube shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section taken through the end of theflint tube which is shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sections taken respectively on the broken linesl4 and 55 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

- Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view showing detached, the closure plugwhich is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but taken at right angles thereto.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the plug shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view similar to the bottom central portionof Fig. 1, butshowing the plug in detached relationship to the lightercasing.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view similar to the bottom central portion ofFig.1, but showing a somewhat modified construction.

The invention is shown in Fig. 1 as applied to a lighter of well knowngeneral construction, having a casing 1 which encloses a fuel chamber 2,and a flint tube 3 which passes through the fuel chamber from the bottomwall 4 of the casing to the top wall 5 thereof. An abradant wheel 6 maybe understood as located adjacent the wall 5, and operated by means of afingerpiece 7 which also operates a cap 8 cooperating with anappropriate burner 9. A flint it) is shown in engagement with the wheel6, but since the present invention is not particularly conatent O cernedwith the details of the lighter operating mechanism, the abovementionedparts are not more particularly described herein.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1-9, the lower end of the flinttube 3 is shown as flanged outwardly at 11, against the inner wall 12 ofa socket 13 in the bottom wall 4 of the lighter casing, it beingunderstood that a fluid tight joint is effected between the parts 11 and12.

As shown more in detail in Figs. 25, the lower end portion of the flinttube 3, somewhat inwardly of its mouth and inwardly of the wall 12, isindented to provide one or more internal shoulders 14 which project intothe bore of the tube and are directed transversely thereof, theseshoulders extending only part way around the in terior of the tube.Preferably the indentation is shaped as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, toprovide a further pair of similar internal transverse shoulders 15 whichlikewise extend part way around the interior of the tube and are locatedcloser to the mouth of the tube than the shoulders 14 previouslyreferred to. Preferably the indentation above referred to is also shapedto provide spaced internal shoulders 16 which are directedlongitudinally within the bore of the tube and extend respectivelybetween the ends of the shoulders 14 and 15 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.The reduced diameter of the tube 3 at the points where the abovementioned shoulders are located, will still be made large enough toreceive the flint 10 and spring 17 hereinafter referred to, when thelatter are inserted into the mouth of the tube.

The closure plug which fits into the mouth of the flint tube is providedat its outer end with a head portion which is slidably and rotatablyreceived in the socket 13 previously referred to, and which preferablylies approximately flush with the casing wall 4 when the plug is innormal position. Preferably also the outer surface of the plug head 18is somewhat roughened to facilitate the twisting of the plug ashereinafter described by direct application of finger pressure thereto,without the aid of any tool.

Extending inwardly from its head 18, the plug is provided with a shankportion 19 which fits slidably and rotatably within the reduced portionof the bore of the flint tube 3 in the region of the shoulders 144.6referred to. Inwardly of its shank 19, the plug is provided with one ormore lugs 20 which project transversely of the plug beyond the confinesof its shank 19, and at its inner end the plug is preferably providedwith a central prong 21 which is engaged with the adjacent end of spring17. The opposite end of this spring may be likewise provided with afitting 22 (Fig. 1) which presses against the flint 10 when the flintpositioning mechanism is in operating position.

Assuming that a new flint is to be inserted, the flint positioningassembly including the plug, spring and fitting 22 will have beenremoved, and the flint will then be dropped in through the mouth of theflint tube, with the lighter more or less inverted from the positionshown in Fig. 1. Then the pressure spring 17 carried by the closure plugand carrying the fitting 22, will be inserted through the mouth of theflint tube, and direct manual pressure will be applied to the plug head13 until the spring 17 is compressed, and the plug head 18 engagesagainst the inner Wall of the socket 13. During this inward movement,the closure plug may be manually twisted by torsional force applieddirectly by the operators finger, if necessary to move the lugs 20 outof alinement with the shoulders 14-16 above referred to, so that thelugs 20 will pass inwardly between adjacent longitudinal shoulders 16 toa position inwardly of the shoulders 14. Thereupon the plug will bemanually twisted until the lugs 20 are alined with the shoulders 14.Then upon release of inward manual pressure on the plug, the lattermoves slightly outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 under theoutward pressure applied by spring 17, in which position the lugs areurged by the compressed spring 17 into engagement with the shoulders 14,to hold the plug in the operative position shown in Fig. 1. Upon releaseof manual pressure the head 18 of the plug moves slightly outwardly insocket 13 into a position substantially flush with the adjacent casingwall. To assist in guiding the lugs 20 into and out of engaging relationwith respect to the shoulders 14, the longitudinal shoulders 16 may beprovided with inwardly directed extensions 16A and 16B respectively, oneof which is longer than the other, in such manner that when the plug ismanually pushed to its inward limit of movement, the lugs 20 will lieinwardly of the extensions 16A but still be engageable by twistingmovement with the extensions 168. Thus the extensions 16B will act asstops limiting the extent of the twisting movement which may be manuallyimparted to the plug, and facilitating the proper alinement of lugs 20with the shoulders 14. Before release of manual pressure, the plug istwisted in the proper direction (because of the stops 16B the plug isthen free to twist in one direction but not in the other) until the lugs20 engage against the stops 16B. It will be understood that the stops16A are substantially diametrically opposite each other, and likewise asto the stops 16B. The stops.16A prevent the lugs 20 from twisting out oflocking position, unless the plug be first pushed inwardly.

In disengaging the closure plug, the latter is first manually pressedinwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1, until the lugs 20 moveinwardly beyond the stops 16A, whereupon the plug may be manuallytwisted (in the reverse direction) until the lugs 20 engage against thestops 163. In this position the lugs 20 will be alined with the spacesbetween the juxtaposed longitudinal shoulders 16, so that if manualpressure on the plug be thereupon released, the pressure of spring 17will push the plug outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 9. In thisposition the flint positioning assembly is freely removable from thetube, and will be withdrawn while the new flint is being inserted intothe mouth of the tube.

Fig. 10 shows the invention applied to a lighter casing of the typedisclosed in the United States patent to Aronson No. 2,505,167 issuedApril 25, 1950, Fig. 10 being a view similar to Fig. 2 of said patent.In Fig. 10, the flint tube 17A is shown as having an extension 178threadedly connected thereto to serve as the mouth portion of the tube,and this extension may be understood as having the same internalshoulder structure as has already been described in connection withFigs. 2-5. Spring 17 of Fig. 10 may be understood to be the same aspreviously described, and also the closure plug 23 of Fig. 10 may beunderstood to be the same as above described in connection with Figs.68. In this instance however the socket 13A (comparable to the socket 13previously described) is provided in a hub 24 which slidably androtatably surrounds the flint tube, and is urged toward an innerposition by a spring 25. This hub is attached to the adjacent wall ofthe casing and the latter has rim portions 26 which are shown asprovided with a packing ring 27. This ring seats against the edge of thelighter side wall structure (not shown). Thus the first mentioned wallof the lighter casing may be pulled outwardly against the pressure ofthe spring and twisted to expose the fuel chamber of the lighter. Whenthereafter twisted in the reverse direction and released, the spring 25will urge the movable wall of the lighter back into closed position.

While the invention has been disclosed as carried out by the abovedescribed specific structures, it should be understood that, changes maybe made therein without 4 departing from the invention in its broaderaspects, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pyrophoric lighter including a casing having a fuel chambertherein, an abradant member mounted exteriorly of said fuel chamber, aflint tube extending through said chamber and having one end portionthereof positioned adjacent said abradant member, means mounting saidfiint tube fixedly in position in said casing the opposite end portionof said tube having a month which opens through a wall of the casing,and a closure plug for the mouth of the flint tube, said plug having atits outer end a head which is directly manually engageable to move theplug both longitudinally and angularly relative to the tube, said plughaving a shank portion extending from said head and which is rotatablyand slidably received in the mouth of the tube, said plug also having atportions thereof disposed inwardly along its shank, at least one lugprojecting transversely of the plug beyond the confines of said shank,the sidewall of said flint tube, inwardly of the mouth portion thereof,being indented to provide at least one shoulder extending into the boreof the tube and directed transversely of the tube, the wall of the tubebeing continuous and imperforate at the juncture of said shoulder withthe adjacent portions of the tube said shoulder extending part wayaround the inner wall of the flint tube, a pressure spring within saidtube and bearing against the inner end portion of said plug, wherebysaid plug may be manually pressed inwardly as aforesaid against thepressure of said spring until said lug is positioned inwardly of saidshoulder, and thereupon manually moved angularly to aline said lug withsaid shoulder, said spring urging said lug into engagement with saidshoulder upon release of the aforesaid manual pressure, to hold the plugagainst withdrawal from the mouth of the flint tube.

2. A pyrophoric lighter including a casing having a fuel chambertherein, an abradant member mounted exteriorly of said fuel chamber, aflint tube extending through said chamber and having one end portionthereof positioned adjacent said abradant member, the opposite endportion of said tube having a mouth which opens through a wall of thecasing, means mounting said flint tube fixedly in position in saidcasing and a closure plug for the mouth of the flint tube, said plughaving at its outer end a head which is directly manually engageable tomove the plug both longitudinally and angularly relative to the tube,said plug having a shank portion extending from said head and which isrotatably and slidably received in the mouth of the tube, said plug alsohaving at portions thereof disposed inwardly along its shank, at leastone lug projecting transversely of the plug beyond the confines of saidshank, the side wall of said flint tube, inwardly of the mouth portionthereof, being indented to provide at least one shoulder extending intothe bore of the flint tube and directed transversely of the tube, saidshoulder extending part way around the inner wall of the flint tube, thewall of said tube being further indented to provide at least one furthershoulder extending into the bore of the tube which runs from said firstmentioned shoulder toward the mouth of the tube, the wall of the tubebeing continuous and imperforate at the junctures of said shoulders withthe respectively adjacent portions of the tube, a pressure spring withinsaid tube and hearing against the inner portion of said plug, wherebysaid plug may be manually pressed inwardly as aforesaid against thepressure of said spring, to travel along said further shoulder to aposition inwardly of said first mentioned shoulder, and thereuponmanually moved angularly to aline said lug with said first mentionedshoulder, said spring urging said lug into engagement with said firstmentioned shoulder upon release of the aforesaid manual pressure, tohold the plug against withdrawal from the mouth of the flint tube.

3. A pyrophoric lighter including a casing having a fuel chambertherein, an abradant member mounted exteriorly of said fuel chamber, aflint tube extending through said chamber and having one end portionthereof positioned adjacent said abradant member, the opposite endportion of-said tube having a mouth which opens through a wall of thecasing, means mounting said flint tube fixedly in position in saidcasing and a closure plug for the mouth of the flint tube, said plughaving at its outer end a head which is directly manually engageable tomove the plug both longitudinally and angularly relative to the tube,said plug having a shank portion extending from said head and which isrotatably and slidably received in the mouth of the tube, said plug alsohaving at portions thereof disposed inwardly along its shank, at leastone lug projecting transversely of the plug beyond the confines of saidshank, the side wall of said flint tube, inwardly of the mouth portionthereof, being indented to provide pairs of substantially parallelshoulders, the shoulders of each pair being spaced from each otherlongitudinally along the flint tube and extending into the bore of thetube and directed transversely of the tube, said shoulders of each pairextending part way around the inner wall of the tube, the wall of saidtube being further indented to provide further pairs of substantiallyparallel shoulders extending into the bore of the tube which runlongitudinally of the tube and respectively between the end portions ofthe shoulders of said first mentioned pairs of shoulders, the wall ofthe tube being continuous and imperforate at the junctures of saidshoulders with the respectively adjacent portions of the tube, apressure spring Within said tube and bearing against the inner endportion of said plug, whereby said plug may be manually pressed inwardlyas aforesaid against the pressure of said spring, to travel between saidfurther pairs of shoulders until said lug is positioned inwardly of saidfirst mentioned pairs of shoulders, and thereupon manually movedangularly to aline said lug with one of said first mentioned pairs ofshoulders, said spring urging said lug into engagement with one of theinner shoulders of said first mentioned pairs of shoulders upon releaseof the aforesaid manual pressure, to hold the plug against withdrawalitem the mouth of the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,766,136 Markstrum June 24, 1930 2,476,149 Homing July 12, 19492,603,075 Levene July 15, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Product Engineering,August 1952, published by Me- Graw-Hill, Albany, New York, page 163.

